DES MOINES, Iowa–Iowa Department of Human Services Director Jerry Foxhoven gave a budget hearing Monday for the coming year that used few numbers but expressed optimism.

Please enable Javascript to watch this video

"We are a very efficient organization," Foxhoven proclaimed during his presentation before Governor Kim Reynolds, Acting Lt. Governor Adam Gregg and top staff.

He added of his department's goal, "Trying to focus on outcomes to improve the health of Iowans and create more predictable and sustainable Medicaid budget. There's a lot of debate about that over the years. I know that you've heard it. But really the last couple of years, we have really made this much more sustainable, much more dependable and delivered much better services."

In the documents that accompanied his presentation, Foxhoven requested $1,782,644,841, a two percent increase in general funds for the next fiscal year. Nearly $27 million of that $35 million increase would go to private companies that have taken over Medicaid delivery services.